Ernesto Chavez (CRD: 4315877) faces a new pending claim on BrokerCheck over an investment made in 2018. The customer alleges $180,000 in damages, and no arbitrator has ruled on the claim.
MICHAEL ANTHONY ROMANO, was previously registered as a broker with ARETE WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC of Nashville, Tennessee from 02/08/2021 - 02/04/2025. Before ARETE WEALTH MANAGEMENT, Romano was registered with CENTER STREET SECURITIES, INC of Nashville, Tennessee from 08/16/2016 - 04/05/2024.
According to FINRA’s BrokerCheck, available to the public on FINRA’s website, MICHAEL ANTHONY ROMANO is no longer registered with any firm. Romano had 18 years of experience in the securities industry and was listed with 6 firms.
MICHAEL ANTHONY ROMANO, according to BrokerCheck, has 17 Disclosures on his FINRA CRD report. One of the disclosures is a “Regulatory” dated 1/26/1984, which was initiated by the American Stock Exchange. Romano was censured and fined $10,000.00.
Of the 17 disclosures listed on MICHAEL ANTHONY ROMANO’s CRD report, 16 are “Customer Disputes” dated between August – December of 2024. The significance of Romano’s 16 “Customer Disputes” is underscored in FINRA NOTICE to MEMBERS 03-49. FINRA conducted a review of the CRD’s of all registered representatives, only .41% had been the subject of 3 or more customer complaints. In other words, Romano’s customer complaints rank him in the top one-hundredth percent of all registered representatives for customer complaints.
Of the 16 disputes filed between August - December of 2024, 8 disputes have been settled, and 8 disputes are pending. If the pending disputes were added together, the combined amount is over $2,750,000.00. In all disputes, both pending and settled, the allegations are, “Client alleges unsuitable investment recommendation.”
On each of the 16 “Customer Disputes,” MICHAEL ANTHONY ROMANO added the following Broker Comment, “I never made any recommendations, or sold any securities, to this customer. I never met or spoke with this customer. This customer purchased a product that failed and many claimants attorneys recruited customers who made those purchases to sue. I am only being named, along with some others, because my former broker dealer went out of business and this customer must have found my name formerly associated with that firm. This is not a legitimate claim against me.”
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Ernesto Chavez (CRD: 4315877) faces a new pending claim on BrokerCheck over an investment made in 2018. The customer alleges $180,000 in damages, and no arbitrator has ruled on the claim.
William Tunink (CRD: 2738224) settled a customer claim for $299,000 on August 11, 2026, according to his BrokerCheck report. The customer alleged that he obtained loans from the customer, and that some of the money went into an investment.
Tony Barouti (CRD: 3031995) faces a pending $230,400 customer claim, according to his BrokerCheck report. He says the allegations in it are false. His report also lists SEC administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings from August 2025.
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